Results 3,041-3,060 of 20,057 for speaker:Brian Stanley

Central Bank (Mortgage Interest Rates) Bill 2015: Second Stage [Private Members] (10 Jun 2015)

Brian Stanley: I welcome the opportunity to speak on this Bill. Deputies on the Government benches gave the basic message that we cannot interfere with the markets. There was another crisis in Irish history when we heard that mantra from the British Tories. It was during the Famine when people were left to the vagaries of the free market. We know what happened then. There are occasions when governments...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Planning Issues (11 Jun 2015)

Brian Stanley: 2. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the terms of reference for the inquiry into planning matters in County Donegal which he has established and if such an inquiry will be in a position to question current and former members of Donegal County Council. [22067/15]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Planning Issues (11 Jun 2015)

Brian Stanley: My question concerns the terms of reference of the inquiry into planning matters into Donegal. Will the inquiry be in a position to question current and former members and current and former staff of Donegal County Council?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Planning Issues (11 Jun 2015)

Brian Stanley: The Minister said he was about to appoint a senior counsel to examine the irregularities complained about in Donegal and that this would be done on a non-statutory basis. The consultants examining the other six counties under scrutiny were appointed on a statutory basis, so why is this being done on a non-statutory basis? The Minister said he was in discussions with the Attorney General...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Planning Issues (11 Jun 2015)

Brian Stanley: I thank the Minister for that reply, but I must say that people who are no longer in the employment of the council may not feel as compelled to co-operate with any inquiry. Any investigation that does not question these individuals would not be of much use. A number of serious allegations have been made by a former planner, Gerard Convie. A total of 20 cases have been sent to the...

Other Questions: Wind Energy Guidelines (11 Jun 2015)

Brian Stanley: The Minister replied that it will be very soon. The point I want to raise concerns the 500 m statutory guideline he is bringing in. I spoke to the Minister of State, Deputy Coffey, on this two weeks ago. My point is that the set-back distance should be governed by the height of the turbines. A distance of 500 m is fine if it is a small turbine but there is a problem if it is a very large...

Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Services (11 Jun 2015)

Brian Stanley: I welcome the opportunity to address this important issue and the fact three relevant Ministers are present. The HSE statement to local media on 3 June set the issue off, but there was some information about it beforehand. The relevant part of the statement referred to a complex planning process that, in the medium to longer term, will result in a reduction in emergency department opening...

Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Services (11 Jun 2015)

Brian Stanley: I thank the Minister for his reply and welcome his acceptance that Naas, Tullamore and Tallaght are already overstretched. The concern is that the acute medical unit may be used as a replacement for the emergency department. Being a medical person, the Minister will understand that these are two very different facilities. I accept his point about the golden hour and stabilised patients....

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Building Regulations Application (11 Jun 2015)

Brian Stanley: 13. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the amount of extra costs being imposed on the owners of self-built homes as a consequence of the building regulations that came into effect in 2014. [22064/15]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Tenant Purchase Scheme Administration (11 Jun 2015)

Brian Stanley: 22. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government when the new tenant purchase scheme which was legislated for in 2014 will come into effect. [22071/15]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Irish Water Funding (11 Jun 2015)

Brian Stanley: 28. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his views on a letter of 12 May 2015 from his Department to a person (details supplied) regarding the shortfall in Irish Water revenue and the implications that will have for continued Government subvention. [22070/15]

Water Services (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2014: Second Stage [Private Members] (12 Jun 2015)

Brian Stanley: I welcome the opportunity to speak on this Bill. I compliment Deputy McGrath on bringing it forward. While we would not agree with everything contained in it, we support the spirit and intention of the Bill. The Minister's lengthy script, which was distributed, refers to the three pillars of reform and the success in setting up the national utility. I would not consider the setting up...

Water Services (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2014: Second Stage [Private Members] (12 Jun 2015)

Brian Stanley: They could do that, and that is the fear. I say that genuinely to the Minister. Our Bill proposing a referendum to insert a clause in the Constitution would firmly place the ownership of the water resources and water services in the hands of the people. The Minister's approach just to use legislation is weak. The reason water services throughout the world were in public hands has...

Water Services (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2014: Second Stage [Private Members] (12 Jun 2015)

Brian Stanley: The Minister of State said it would be cheaper. This service will not be cheaper than it has been up to now. Substantial moneys were invested in the rehabilitation of water mains during the previous Government's term. This work has slowed down and it will be become more costly to operate the system. The establishment of Irish Water was a bad day's work.

Urban Regeneration and Housing Bill 2015: Second Stage (Resumed) (16 Jun 2015)

Brian Stanley: This Bill is another example of the Government bringing forward legislation to deal with an issue it has by and large ignored and neglected over the past four years. It has made a big play out of addressing the issue of social housing and the lack of housing in general since the beginning of the year, while well aware that little practical provision will be made in terms of housing provision...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Electoral Commission in Ireland: Discussion (16 Jun 2015)

Brian Stanley: Do we have copies of it?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Electoral Commission in Ireland: Discussion (16 Jun 2015)

Brian Stanley: There is broad support for a body to deal with these matters and the diagram which was shown is useful for giving examples from other countries of what an electoral commission would look like and the roles it would have. The difficulty is that we are in anti-quango mode at the moment and people will say this is another superquango. There are questions around whether it will take on the role...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Electoral Commission in Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (23 Jun 2015)

Brian Stanley: I welcome the representatives from the various bodies. It is good to have present all the bodies that may have a role in future electoral commissions. There seems to be a broad consensus around the need for an electoral commission and my party is in favour of this. That there is not a uniform means to deal with referenda and that there are problems with the register of electors and the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Electoral Commission in Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (23 Jun 2015)

Brian Stanley: I would like to hear the views of Mr. Tyndall and Mr. McCarthy on the question in relation to the role of local government. I have heard with Mr. Nugent had to say. While I agree to a large extent with what he said, I am a little conflicted because local government is now so different. That is not to suggest it is better. It is different now in terms of it no longer having rate...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Pensions Issues (24 Jun 2015)

Brian Stanley: 54. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she is aware of concerns raised by the Electricity Supply Board Retired Staff Association and its demands for a change in the social welfare and pensions legislation to provide for the rights of pensioner organisations or associations to represent their members, so that pensioners have access to the State's industrial relations mechanisms, and...